Cash flow optimization using a genetic algorithm
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining an optimal cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing at least one objective related to amounts of the payments and dates of the payments in the cash flow plan, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- generating a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector representing a cash flow plan, numerically defining for each payment obligation a payment date and a payment amount; and
iteratively modifying the genome population using a genetic algorithm until a vector forming the optimal cash flow plan is determined that maximizes a minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account while simultaneously optimizing the plurality of objectives.
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Abstract
A genetic algorithm determines a plan for payment of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account. The genetic algorithm operates to satisfy certain objectives, including maximizing the minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account. A genome population including a number of vectors is generated. The genome population is modified using a genetic algorithm, until at least one vector represents a plan for the payment obligations such that payment of each payment obligation in accordance with the vector most nearly satisfies one or more objectives.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining an optimal cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing at least one objective related to amounts of the payments and dates of the payments in the cash flow plan, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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generating a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector representing a cash flow plan, numerically defining for each payment obligation a payment date and a payment amount; and
iteratively modifying the genome population using a genetic algorithm until a vector forming the optimal cash flow plan is determined that maximizes a minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account while simultaneously optimizing the plurality of objectives.
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2. A computer-implemented method of determining a cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing at least one objective, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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generating a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector in the first set of vectors representing the cash flow plan, numerically defining a payment date and a payment amount corresponding to each payment obligation in the accounts payable;
obtaining a plurality of objectives with respect to the cash flow plan, the objectives including maximizing a minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account and each objective associated with a weight indicating the importance of the objective; and
modifying the genome population by use of a genetic algorithm, including;
determining a fitness for each of the vectors in the genome population using objective values, the objective values determined by applying objective functions to the vectors, each object value weighted by the corresponding weights; and
introducing new vectors in the genome population derived from other vectors including the first set of vectors, until at least one of the vectors in the genome population represents a cash flow plan, such that payment of each payment obligation in the accounts payable in accordance with the cash flow plan maximizes the minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account while optimizing the objectives. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer program product for determining a cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing at least one objective, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform a method comprising:
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generating a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector in the first set of vectors representing a cash flow plan, numerically defining a payment date and a payment amount corresponding to each payment obligation in the accounts payable;
obtaining a plurality of objectives with respect to the cash flow plan, the objectives including maximizing a minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account and each objective associated with a weight indicating the importance of the objective; and
modifying the genome population by use of a genetic algorithm, including;
determining a fitness for each of the vectors in the genome population using objective values, the objective values determined by applying objective functions to the vectors and weighted by the corresponding weights; and
introducing new vectors in the genome population derived from other vectors including the first set of vectors, until at least one of the vectors in the genome population represents a cash flow plan, such that payment of each payment obligation in the accounts payable in accordance with the cash flow plan maximizes the minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account while optimizing the objectives. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer program product for determining an optimal cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing at least one objective related to amounts of the payments and dates of the payments in the cash flow plan, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform a method comprising:
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generating a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector representing a cash flow plan, numerically defining for each payment obligation a payment date and a payment amount; and
iteratively modifying the genome population using a genetic algorithm until a vector forming the optimal cash flow plan is determined that maximizes a minimum daily cash on hand in the finance account while simultaneously optimizing the plurality of objectives.
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31. A system for determining a cash flow plan corresponding to a plurality of payment obligations in accounts payable of a finance account while optimizing a plurality of objectives with respect to the cash flow plan by a genetic algorithm, the objectives including maximizing a minimum daily cash on hand and each objective being associated with a weight indicating the importance of the objective, the system comprising:
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an initialization module for obtaining a genome population having a first set of vectors, each vector in the first set of vectors representing a cash flow plan, numerically defining a payment date and a payment amount corresponding to each payment obligation in the accounts payable;
a scoring module for determining fitness for each vector in the genome population using objective values, the objective values associated with the objectives and weighted by the corresponding weights;
a selection module for selecting mating vectors from the first set of vectors based on the fitness of each of the first set of vectors;
a mating module for mating the selected mating vectors to obtain a second set of vectors;
a mutation module for mutating the second set of vectors to obtain a third set of vectors; and
a replacement module for replacing selected ones of vectors in the first set of vectors in the genome population with the third set of vectors, the replacement module replacing the vectors until at least one of the vectors in the genome population represents a cash flow plan, such that payment of each payment obligation in accordance with the cash flow plan maximizes the minimum daily cash on hand while optimizing the objectives. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification